ZESN participated in the Masvingo Agricultural Show, which ran under the theme “Moving Towards Economic Development and Growth.” The Agricultural Show attracted a diverse audience from all walks of life particularly the elderly. The ZESN exhibition booth became a space for vibrant discussions on elections, democracy, and civic responsibility. Elderly people demonstrated notable electoral knowledge, while the youth turnout was lower than anticipated.
ZESN EXHIBITION AT THE 2024 MASVINGO, ZIMBABWE AND MATABELELAND SOUTH AGRICULTURAL SHOWS
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY 2024 Press Statement by ZESN
15-September-2024 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) joins the global community in commemorating International Democracy Day, observed annually on September 15. This year’s theme, “Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Good Governance,” highlights both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into electoral processes. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2007, International Democracy Day promotes the reflection on democracy’s global state and encourages governments to enhance democratic practices.
ZESN views Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool with transformative potential in Zimbabwe’s elections. AI can improve various aspects of electoral systems, such as enhancing voter registration through biometric voter registration (BVR) and improving the transparency of vote counting. The technology offers increased efficiency, accuracy, and the ability to detect electoral fraud by analyzing data patterns and irregularities.
Despite these advantages, the Network expresses concern over the lack of transparency in AI systems. Stakeholders such as election observers and civil society have raised concerns about the opacity of AI algorithms. Without proper oversight, AI could be misused to manipulate voter data, reinforce biases, or disenfranchise voters—issues that are particularly troubling in Zimbabwe, where electoral integrity has historically been a sensitive matter.
Should Zimbabwe De-harmonise its Elections
INTRODUCTION
The desirability of holding harmonised presidential, parliamentary and local government election in Zimbabwe
remains a subject of debate for academics and practitioners despite the adoption of the system on 30 October
2007. A harmonised election in the Zimbabwean context can best be conceptualised as an election in which voters
cast ballots for different political offices, namely the president, Members of Parliament (MPs), and local
councillors, at the same time. In other countries and in electoral studies these are commonly referred to as
simultaneous or synchronised elections. The most prominent argument in favour of holding local municipal
elections separately dates back to the progressive era from the 1890s to the 1920s. It is that holding elections
separately allows voters to give adequate attention to local issues without distraction from national races. In
addition, proponents argue that harmonised elections can distort results as people are likely to vote along party
slates, overwhelm voters and provide administrative and logistical challenges for electoral bodies. However, a
considered view is that synchronising local government with presidential and parliamentary elections will result
in: high voter participation and diminish voter fatigue; increased competitiveness and profile of local elections
contrary to conventional wisdom; huge financial savings to the public exchequer and one financial plan for all
spheres of government; regular holding of local government elections; minimisation of calculated closure of the
democratic space as local-only elections can be seen as a portent for the subsequent general elections; fewer
cycles of uncertainty for corporate investments; less cycles of violence and human rights violations which
correspond with elections; increased time for government and society to spend on development work, production
and governance and democratic progression in Zimbabwe’s post-colonial electoral transition.
Zimbabwe Harmonized General Elections 23 August 2023: Compendium of Election Observers Recommendations
The video you are about to watch serves as a comprehensive overview of the critical issues highlighted in our Compendium of Election Observers Recommendations. It provides an engaging platform for our advocacy efforts, combining expert analysis with visual storytelling. The video not only sheds light on observations made but also offers tangible solutions for reform. We hope it will inspire constructive dialogue among policymakers, Chapter 12 Commissions, civil society organizations, electoral stakeholders and the electorate.
Zimbabwe Harmonized General Elections 23 August 2023: Compendium of Election Observers Recommendations
ESN-SA -ZESN JOINT PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ON SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTIONS
The Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA) and the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) jointly deployed a ten-member observer mission with experienced observation practitioners to observe polling processes in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape Provinces during the National and Provincial elections. The primary objective of the Joint Observer Mission was to evaluate whether the South African electoral process adhered to national laws and to determine if the country’s electoral framework aligns with regional and international principles, norms, standards, and best practices. This initiative underscores the Network’s dedication to advancing democratic integrity and transparent electoral processes throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
METHODOLOGY
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) accredited the Joint Mission via an online portal. The process was simple and efficient, reducing logistical hurdles for the IEC, ESN-SA, and ZESN members. The Joint Mission deployed three (3) teams in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape Provinces that met with electoral stakeholders, including the Independent Electoral Commission’s Provincial Representatives, the Police, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and Faith-Based Organisations. In its assessment of the elections, the Joint Mission used various international, regional normative and legal instruments for democratic elections as benchmarks: the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, the Principles for Election Management, Monitoring, and Observation (PEMMO) and South Africa’s legal framework.
The Joint Election Observation Mission closely observed special voting on May 27 and 28, 2024, and the National and Provincial Elections (NPEs) on May 29, 2024.
ZESN Position Paper on Recalls, Subsequent By-elections & Lessons Learnt
This position paper attempts to interrogate whether and under which conditions
Zimbabwe might maintain a right to decide to recall or ‘un-elect’ those elected
representatives. A recall is a ‘mechanism to allow the removal of an elected official from
1 office before his or her term is complete, without waiting for the next general election’ .
From the premise of normative democratic theory, it is a valuable instrument of direct
democracy that can give citizens more control over their representatives to expand
opportunities for reinforcing legitimate and responsive governance and continuous
accountability. This conceptualisation is more relevant in a political system based on
representative democracy where citizens vote for representatives to act on their behalf
2 and in their interest. Yet once elected, officials do not exclusively represent their parties
that nominated them to be candidates but must be representatives of the Zimbabwean
People. This raises the global question as to whether and under which conditions voters
3 might maintain a right to decide to recall or ‘un-elect’ those elected representatives.
To provide insights to the question, a review was made to the relevant constitutional
provisions, constitutional court rulings and related literature and the experiences of other
jurisdictions in Europe, United Kingdom, North America, Latin America and Africa. One
critical observation was that recalls are more prevalent in most undeveloped, emerging
and semi- democratic states compared to more developed democracies. Yet the power
to recall entails a citizen led rather than a party centric process. Within these global trends,
it is observed that Zimbabwe, a semi-democratic state, first enacted recall laws in the late
1980s as a ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party
strategy to ensure hegemonic control over their rivalries. However, some dominant
opposition elites or reformists during the 2013 constitution making process, argued for its
retention not necessarily as a tool to empower citizens but to largely contain excesses of a
competitive authoritarian state by precluding the real possibilities of solicited and
opportunistic defections by elected officials for personal prebends and to promote the
stability and control of their political parties.
Report on the 27 April 2024 National Assembly By-Elections
Zimbabwe conducted two (2) by-elections on 27 April 2024 to fill vacant constituent seats of Mount Pleasant and Harare East. This was in accordance with Statutory Instrument 37A of 2024, Proclamation 1 of 2024. Constituency vacancies occurred following the resignation of Fadzayi Mahere and Allan Markham Rusty who were elected on the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party ticket, during the August 2023 Harmonised Elections. On 20 February 2024, the Speaker of Parliament announced the vacancies. Following the declaration of vacancies, the President of Zimbabwe officially scheduled 26 March for receiving nomination papers from the prospective candidates and 27 April as the election date. Accordingly, March 26 Nomination Court convened in Harare at the Rotten Row Magistrates Court to receive candidates’ nomination papers and a by-election was subsequently held on 27 April.
Harare East and Mount Pleasant are urban constituencies found in Harare Metropolitan Province. Harare East Constituency consists of high, medium and low-density suburbs of Harare. Areas like Tafara, Gletwyn, Borrowdale, and Glen Lorne among others were combined during the 2022/2023 Delimitation Exercise to meet the Constituency threshold. As far as possible communities with the same interest were contained in same wards in line with Section 161 (6) (d) of the Constitution, the delimitation exercise mixed communities with different interests to meet the constitutional voter population threshold for the Harare East, resulting in a mix of communities with different interests in this Constituency.
Mount Pleasant is also primarily a residential constituency, that shares borders with Hatcliffe, Harare East, Harare Central and Harare West Constituencies. The Constituency was created in 2oo8 following the 2007/2008 delimitation exercise and was reconfigured again in the 2022/2023 delimitation exercise.
27 APRIL 2024 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BY-ELECTIONS PRELIMINARY STATEMENT by ZESN
27-APRIL-2024– In the spirit of ensuring transparency, fairness and accountability crucial to democracy and safeguarding election integrity, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observed National Assembly by-elections on 27 April 2024 in Harare East and Mt Pleasant Constituencies. The by-elections were held to fill in vacancies that arose in the Constituencies following the resignation from the National Assembly by former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators for Mt Pleasant and Harare East, Fadzayi Mahere and Allan Markham.
Legal Framework
The by-elections were held in accordance with the 2013 Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the Subsidiary and Subordinate legislation that usually takes the form of Statutory Instruments. This legal framework governs the conditions under which by-elections are to be held and the electoral system to be used. Section 39 of the Electoral Act states that in the event of an electoral vacancy occurring, the Speaker of Parliament shall notify the President and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the vacancy as soon as possible after he/she becomes aware of it and just as is the case with other elections, a clear roadmap guiding the by-elections should be mapped.
Section 129 (1) (b) prescribes that the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant upon a member resigning from his or her seat by written notice to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of Parliament. Sections 159 of the Constitution and Section 39 of the Electoral Act, provide that a vacancy must be filled through a by-election whenever it occurs. In compliance with s158 (3) of the Constitution, which mandates that any vacancy should be filled through a by-election within 90 days of the date on which the vacancy has occurred, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, through Statutory Instrument 37A of 2024, Proclamation 1 of 2024 proclaimed 26 March 2024 as the date for nomination of candidates and 27 April 2024 as the by-election date for the two (2) Constituencies.
The Electoral Act outlines the key procedures for candidate nomination, voting, counting and the announcement of the results of the said by-election. As mandated by the Constitution to conduct by-elections, ZEC was in charge and supervised the by-elections. Voter registration
for the by-elections is closed as per Section 26 of the Electoral Act which provides that no person shall be registered as a voter no later than the second day following the publication and proclamation of the election.
Nomination Court
The Nomination Court for Harare East and Mount Pleasant National Assembly Constituencies sat on Tuesday, 26 March 2024, to receive nomination papers of candidates for election as legislators for the vacant seats at the Magistrates Court Rotten Row, Harare. Mutimbanyoka Kiven of ZANU-PF and Cheza Ropafadzo Cynthia, an independent candidate, were successfully nominated to contest as National Assembly candidates for Harare East Constituency. Another contender, David Chitimbe of Changu Chimuti Chakapinda Chapinda (CCCC), intended to vie for the Harare East seat but was disqualified due to the inability to secure the required US$1,000 nomination fees. Two (2) independent candidates, Mamuse Nason, Ticky Brian and Mashavave George of ZANU-PF, were dully nominated as National Assembly candidates for Mt Pleasant. Overall, the process was very peaceful and calm. There were no reported incidents of violence or intimidation by candidates or their supporters during nomination day and processes.
Pre-election period and campaigns
Campaigns for the by-elections began after the sitting of the Nomination Court on March 26. ZANU-PF heavily invested in campaigns, holding rallies in Mt Pleasant and Harare East. Notably, on 14 April 2024, ZANU-PF held a Provincial Launch of the campaign at Bond Shops Post Office Mt Pleasant, Hon Tavengwa led the proceedings. On 20 April, the party hosted a Star rally at Lewisam Primary School in Mt Pleasant Constituency led by Vice President Kembo Mohadi. In Harare East, a rally was held at Dam View, and it was led by Vice President Dr. Constantino Chiwenga, who encouraged people to vote for a ZANU-PF candidate. Ropafadzo Cheza (Independent) is reported to have held a rally at Chisipite Shops. Cheza also had mobile teams around Harare East with mobile hailers as part of her campaign strategy. Cheza and Mamuse, for Harare East and Mt Pleasant, respectively, were calling on voters to support former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa by casting their votes in their favour.
Observation methodology
ZESN trained and deployed 107 observers, comprising 95 polling station-based observers and 12 mobile teams. The mobile teams served a dual role; to supervise static observers and to observe the environment outside polling stations on Election Day. ZESN also received updates on the pre-electoral environment from observers resident in both National Assembly Constituencies.
Before deployment, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) accredited all ZESN observers. This preliminary statement is informed by reports from ZESN observers and recommendations aligned with Zimbabwe’s electoral laws and SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing the Conduct of Democratic Elections.
2023 HARMONISED ELECTIONS: POST ELECTION REVIEW AND LESSONS LEARNT CONFERENCE REPORT
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) held a two- day Conference in Bulawayo
from 28 to 29 February 2024 with the overall objective; to review the 2023 Harmonized
Elections focusing on the legislative framework, the administrative framework and the
political environment. The meeting also analyzed the role of Civil Society Organisations
(CSOs) and other electoral stakeholders in the elections. More specifically, the Conference
sought to facilitate a constructive evaluation and well-informed review of the 2023
Harmonized Elections by reflecting on the successes, failures and lessons learnt in the
elections. It also sought to share an understanding among stakeholders of the gaps in the
electoral framework as well as stakeholders’ input on the recommendations to be
adopted ahead of the 2028 Harmonized Elections and by-elections that take place in
between.
The Conference was attended by 130 delegates drawn from ZESN Member
organisations, the Chapter 12 Institutions Supporting Democracy, political parties,
members of the academia, media organisations, other CSOs’ Community-Based
Organisations (CBOs) and Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) working on elections and
representing various interests groups like women, youth and Persons with Disabilities
(PwDs). Among the Chapter 12 Institutions were representatives from the Zimbabwe
Gender Commission (ZGC), Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and the
Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC). Political parties represented at the workshop
included Zimbabwe African Union- Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), the Citizens Coalition for
Change (CCC), United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) and the Labour Economists African
Democrats (LEAD).
The presentations at the Conference covered various themes, including the legislative
and administrative framework, the political environment and the role of CSOs and other
electoral stakeholders. Other themes examined included political party campaign
strategies and messaging, electoral dispute resolution mechanisms, the role of the media
in elections and key lessons and recommendations from the 2023 elections. The
Conference featured presentations and panel discussions led by experts, practitioners,
and observers who offered diverse perspectives on the 2023 elections.
